today at six... the uk drugs regulator approves a coronavirus vaccine. the first doses will be here next week. the uk is the first country to approve the pfizer vaccine. the prime minister praises the scientists — but he's got a warning, too. ..as we celebrate this scientific achievement, we're not carried away with overoptimism or fall into the naive belief that the struggle is over. it's not. jabs at racecourses and conference centres — they could all be used in one of the biggest logistical operations the country has seen. this will take a while before everything changes, but we're hopeful that this is the beginning of the end of this very difficult year that we've had.

we'll be reporting on who is in line to get the vaccine, and when. also tonight... england is out of lockdown and into tiers — non—essential shops open again — but can they recoup their losses? a final check before the moment she's been waiting for. care homes in england are open to visitors again. coming up in sport on bbc news, football clubs in england prepare for the return of fans tonight, for the first time in nine months since the coronavirus shutdown. good evening and welcome to the bbc news at six. in less than a week, the uk will become the first country in the world to start rolling out the coronavirus vaccine developed by the pharmaceutical company pfizer and its partner biontech.

it comes after the uk drugs regulator approved the vaccine in record time. millions of doses are on order and the first batch will be here in days. so who's in line for the jab? the plan is for elderly care home residents and nhs staff to go first. after that it will be allocated according to age groups and vulnerability. but it will be a complex operation. our medical editor fergus walsh has this report. this walsh has this report. is an historic moment. at la there this is an historic moment. at last, there is a clear path out of this pandemic, thanks to vaccination. the uk is the first country in the world to approve the pfizer biontech vaccine, seen here on the production line in belgium. the prime minister made clear the vaccine won't change life for now, but hope is on the horizon. prime minister, now we have a vaccine, how important is this

moment? when you consider that the damage, as i was saying earlier, the damage, as i was saying earlier, the damage that this virus has done to human life across the planet, the economic damage, the social damage, to say nothing of the cost in life and suffering, it is a fantastic moment. more than 20,000 volunteers got two doses of the vaccine as part of the trials. it proved 95% effective at preventing covid, even among those in their 70s and 80s. side effects were mostly mild. a small minority suffered headaches and fatigue. the independent regulator mh ra began reviewing more than 1,000 pages of data injune and, today, gave the green light. separate teams have been working in parallel to deliver the most rigorous review of this vaccine. no corners have been cut. our expert scientists and clinicians have

worked around the clock, carefully, methodically poring over tables and a nalyses methodically poring over tables and analyses and graphs on every single piece of data. creating a completely new vaccine usually takes at least ten years, from design and development through trials, to regulatory review and production. this has been compressed to less than a year. many stages were done in parallel and pfizer began vaccine production at their own risk, even before they knew it worked. 800,000 doses of the vaccine should arrive in the uk within days. a0 million doses have been ordered in total, enough to immunise 20 million adults. the only hurdle is the vials have to be transported from belgium in special containers at an ultralow temperature. they then get put into a thermal ship are packed with dry

ice that then maintains the temperature at —70, if an open, for ten days. the committee which advises the government on immunisation says the elderly and front—line health and care workers should be first in line. we are suggesting that vaccines are offered in orderto suggesting that vaccines are offered in order to protect people who are most at risk of dying from covid—19, as well as to protect health and social care services, because, by doing so, we also protect lives. age is by far the single most important factor in terms of risk from covid—19. factor in terms of risk from covid-19. more covid vaccines could be approved within weeks. the goal then, to immunise notjust the uk, but the world. fergus walsh, bbc news. today, the prime minister said rolling out the vaccine will be the biggest programme of mass vaccination in the history of the uk, and it will be complex. for example, this vaccine has to be stored and transported at about minus 70 degrees celsius.

here's our health editor hugh pym on the challenges that lie ahead. the nhs is ready, though it's a huge task starting next week, vaccinating its own staff and other priority groups, and those likely to receive the jab soon are already looking ahead to a major milestone in this pandemic. working as an icu nurse, especially in the first surge, a lot of the nurses were living away from home, and they were concerned about bringing it home to their families. if we do have the vaccine, it means we can get back to living a more normal life. life has not been normal for the past several months. the official vaccine priority list in this first phase is headed by care home residents and carers, followed by the over 80s and front line health workers, and then younger groups and the clinically vunerable . nhs staff, care workers and the over 80s are set to be the first.

our members are ready to go in the next few days... health leaders say because the vaccine has to be stored at very low temperatures and is not easily moved, hospitals are the obvious place to start. the idea for the first phase is that we concentrate on nhs hospitals delivering this vaccine because of the particular requirements of the pfizer vaccine. the expectation is that it would be used on staff. our members are ready to go, they've mobilised, they've prepared very rapidly, but this is a complex logistical task. in northern ireland, officials have set aside a new hospital emergency department as one of seven designated vaccination sites. the scottish government also plans to prioritise health and care staff. the pfizer vaccines against covid will be administered in scotland on tuesday the 8th of december. so you can perhaps understand why i have probably smiled more in the last few minutes than you've seen me do in several months. but care homes are now wondering what all this means for their residents and why they don't now appear to be top of the list.

it's really disappointing, and, obviously, there is potential implications for our residents as well should we get another outbreak of covid, then they're more likely to suffer some serious consequences of that. there's now an accelerating drive to set up vaccination hubs for the wider population, including one at epsom racecourse. and another at a sports hall on the etihad campus in manchester. even a village hall in surrey is being prepared as a site for vaccinations in the local community. but it's not going to happen overnight. there is a long journey ahead. hugh pym, bbc news. lots of you will have thoughts and questions about the vaccine. our health correspondent catherine burns has been speaking to mother and daughter stephanie and ingrid — and put their questions to the former chair of the royal college of gps. how can we be confident that this is safe for everyone? with respect to

this vaccine, it has been through exactly the same rigour, the same scrutiny, the same regulator as any other medicine that we might give you. so we certainly know there has been no short cuts to testing its safety. stephanie, you have got a big birthday coming up soon, you are going to be 80 injanuary, if you don't mind me saying, so when do you hope you will be getting this vaccine? i don't know where i am in the queue. i shouldn't be that high up the queue. i shouldn't be that high up because lots of people are more vulnerable. stephanie, first, congratulations for your big birthday. the fact is, you will be way ahead in the queue from your daughter, way ahead and the reason is you are more likely, if you get the virus, to be more unwell with it. i have to say, you are more likely to die than your daughter so therefore it is much more important that we give people who are more vulnerable... i'll tell you what i feel, i feel a vulnerable... i'll tell you what i feel, ifeela bit vulnerable... i'll tell you what i feel, i feel a bit guilty. vulnerable... i'll tell you what i feel, i feel a bit guiltyli vulnerable... i'll tell you what i feel, i feel a bit guilty. i don't know how we can judge the side

effects in such a short space of time. the side effects that we know, because bear in mind 20,000 people have had this vaccine already, is a slight redness around the injection site and some people might feeljust a little bit unwell, but not very unwell, for a little while afterwards, just like the flu vaccine. so the short term side effects of this are very minimal. what interests me is how we are going to get all of these doddery old people lined up and getting out of their homes. the logistics are very important. i mean, this is the biggest immunisation ever done, i think, in the history of mankind and we are going to have to do it twice, because we have to do it a few weeks apart. it is not going to be just gps doing jabs, it will be nurses, pharmacists and we may even find laypeople may be taught how to give the vaccine, so this is going to be an enormous operational task but, re st an enormous operational task but, rest assured, it will be done. so

hearing all of the questions a nswered hearing all of the questions answered by macro to how does it make you feel? relieved, we can see the end in sight —— by clare. make you feel? relieved, we can see the end in sight -- by clare. 2021 can't come soon enough, really. our medical editor fergus walsh is here. fergus, the government has clearly got its priority list, but the reality sounds as if care homes might not actually be the first to get the vaccine. yes, it is a concern because this particular covid vaccine has to be transported at -70 covid vaccine has to be transported at —70 and comes in boxes of nearly 1,000 doses. obviously, the nhs doesn't want to waste any of those. pfizer is very clear, they have said it can be kept up to five days in a normalfridge and it can be kept up to five days in a normal fridge and for up to six hours ina normal fridge and for up to six hours in a portable fridge box, which would allow max and 80s to go into ca re which would allow max and 80s to go into care homes but the uk hasn't

signed off on that yet —— allow vaccinators. on a broader level, this is extraordinary achievement to get a safe and effective vaccine so quickly and i think people really should have confidence in this vaccine, because it has been through a series of rigorous independent checks and it won't protect anyone if it stays in —— inside there is little glass vials, so it is important that people come forward when they are invited to. the government hopes that by easter, those over 65 and at very high risk will have been immunised. we might need booster doses in years to come, we don't know how long protection will last, because the virus is not going anywhere. fergus, thank you very much. the latest government figures show there were 16,170 new coronavirus infections recorded in the latest 2a—hour period. that means the average number of new cases reported per day in the last week is now 1a,790. there were 1,a10 people admitted to hospital on average each day over the week to last sunday. and 6a8 deaths were reported —

that's people who died within 28 days of a positive covid—19 test. that means on average, in the past week, a53 deaths were announced every day. it takes the total number of deaths so far across the uk to 59,699. england has moved out of lockdown and into a three—tier system. more than 55 million people are in the strictest two tiers, which means all shops are now open but there are still strict rules on who you can meet indoors. our political editor laura kuenssberg is at westminster tonight. laura, soa laura, so a vaccine is here, but, for most of us, the reality is that it is months away. right now, what we got to contend with is the tier system. that's right, whether it is the new toughened up to system with three different categories in england, five in scotland or rules

in wales and northern ireland, the scientific triumph is not going to change the reality for most of us in daily life anytime soon. and, despite something of a parliamentary kicking from some of his own mps last night, that means, for boris johnson, this new regime of toughened up tiers came into force at midnight last night. would you like any drinks, while you're waiting? back in business, the lucky ones maybe. wilmslow, like the rest of cheshire, woke up in tier 2 this morning. so, halil, who lost a0% of his business to the virus, shedding staff, is able to get going again. i am very glad. i'm very happy to see the customers come back in here. rob's a local church leader, and is relieved to be out. we have escaped what has become at home a delightful little prison. but only 20 miles down the road in manchester, life feels very different, and so was the mood on a radio phone in today. radio jingle: the sound of manchester... like more than 20 million others, they are living under the tightest rules still.

pubs and restaurants shut, travel restricted, too. the only thing i want to say to borisjohnson is its unjust and it's unfair. why is it we have come out in a higher tier than london? if he thinks that london's economy is more important than the north, thenjust come out and say it. we are having a furlough system in place, which is great, job retention, but there will be no jobs, if this carries on. reporter: have you lost authority within your party? that fear is one of the reasons why borisjohnson was told in no uncertain terms by dozens of his own mps last night that the tier system is not universally popular, but limits are here to stay, with jobs in particular under pressure. now, the arrival of the vaccine is obviously wonderful news, but it will come too late to many who have lost theirjobs already, and i want to turn to the collapse of the arcadia group, and debenhams, in the last a8 hours. that's put 25,000 jobs at risk. what is he going to do now to protect the jobs and the pensions

of all those affected by these closures? of course, supporting everyjob that we possibly can, as well as supporting every life and every livelihood, mr speaker, with a £200 billion programme. but i'd take him more seriously, frankly, if he actually could be bothered to vote for a moderate programme to keep the virus down and open up the economy. news of the vaccine has lifted people's eyes towards the end of this pandemic, but, in truth, whether in westminster, in edinburgh, cardiff or in belfast, politicians are still going to be grappling with managing this virus and its effects for months to come, and for all of us, that means limits on our lives that ebb and flow in different corners of the country, and that don't always seem fair. but the disease doesn't care about fairness, and how everyone responds to the rules in place across the country will affect how the virus shapes the future for us all. laura kuenssberg, bbc news, westminster. as we've heard, non—essential shops have re—opened in england for the first time in a month.

some shoppers queued from the early hours of the morning and the debenhams website crashed because of the interest in its closing down sale. as our consumer affairs correspondent sarah corker reports, some businesses are extending their trading hours to try to recoup their losses during the lockdown. the decorations are up, the festive discounts are on, and lockdown is lifted. county durham is in the highest tier 3 level of restrictions, but for retailers here in bishop auckland, it's a relief to be trading again. november, it was so difficult, closing. it's one of the busiest months of retailfor trade, so we really to get december you know, people outspending money to see us through. we have taken such a massive, massive hit this year, and unlike some of the bigger chains, we don't have the financial support that they get, so we will lose a lot of our little independent businesses if people don't start to come back. and there clearly is pent—up demand.

in birmingham, they queued before dawn for primark. on london's oxford street, trade was brisk, but it's been a difficult week for retail. the collapse of debenhams and arcadia, the owner of brands like topshop and dorothy perkins has put 25,000 jobs at risk. the demise of these retail giants will leave a big hole here in newcastle city centre and on high streets across britain. and today, bonmarche went into administration with 1,500 staff affected. but shopping centers are trying to sparkle. tier 3 rules mean shops at the metro centre in gateshead can open postop cafes can only do takeaways. i went to have a sandwich, but we had to go outside, so that was a bit difficult. i'm shocked it's so quiet. i was expecting it to be quite busy. there's a lot more in the shops, i think, then you can get online. managers hope longer opening hours will boost sales.

stores can trade 2a hours a day. these three and a bit weeks up to christmas will count between 50—60% of some of our retail sales for the month of december, obviously, it's absolute key. the retail sector has lost billions of pounds of sales and lockdown, and businesses are banking on a late christmas rush. sarah corker, bbc news in gateshead. the is 19 minutes past six. our top story this evening... the uk becomes the first country in the world to approve the pfizer coronavirus vaccine. the first doses will be here next week. and still to come — in tiers and on the terraces, the end of england's lockdown sees fans returning to live sport. coming up on sportsday on bbc news, the man filling in for the f1 champion this weekend in bahrain. george russell gets the call up, after lewis hamilton's positive covid test.

for months now, we've been reporting on the heartbreaking stories of families being separated from their loved ones in care homes. well, the health secretary for england, matt hancock, told mps that, from today, visitors who test negative for the virus will be allowed to visit care homes again. jon kay reports on a day so many have been waiting for. nine long months without a cuddle, but for audrey, today's the day. i'm just going to get everything ready now, all right? if all goes well, the 95—year—old will finally be able to see her daughter. it'll be grand. it'll be grand to hug her. it'll be good. it will be good. i can't wait, i can't wait! it's so exciting for you. outside, her daughter christine is having a rapid covid test, with results in half an hour. one nostril and then the other, all right? after months of having to chat

on screens and through plastic, they will be able to have physical contact again, if this test comes back clear. how are you feeling? oh, it's really exciting, and i can't wait! i really can't wait. i can't say any more than that. ijust hope i don't cry. go away, i want to see her! while she waits for the result, there is ppe to put on. staff here say the pilot scheme has gone well, but they do worry about getting enough tests, and the added costs, especially for smaller homes. i think it will be expensive, because we'll have to upskill our staff. we will probably have to put more staff on the floor. it's quite hard to recruit care staff at the moment, and i think even for things like ppe, and just finding those added areas for us to do it, i think it is going to be an expensive time. the test has come back negative, so it's finally time for that hug. how exciting is this? it's very, very exciting. it's not quite normal... all right, audrey? you can have a hug! ..but it's a start.

and it's much, much better than nothing. applause. oh, this is amazing. this is amazing. just like the old days, mum, isn't it? mum, isn't it? laughter. this is just brilliant. it's grand. it will be even nicer when we can touch skin, but this is pretty good, isn't it? yes. pretty good. jon kay, bbc news, devon. this year is set to be one of the three hottest ever recorded — that's according to the world meteorological office. the announcement comes as the un secretary general makes his strongest call yet for global action on climate change. here's our chief environment correspondent, justin rowlatt. as if suffering a pandemic wasn't enough, now we learn that 2020 is on track to be one of the three hottest years ever recorded, and that is not all. the past decade, obviously, is the warmest on record,

and the last six years are the warmest years on record. the bad news is even the covid—19 lockdown haven't made a difference. the coronavirus restrictions imposed around the world may have shut down our cities and lead to a small reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, but the world meteorological organisation is saying today it hasn't been enough to stop the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere from continuing to increase. the un chief, antonio guterres, told the bbc today global action is needed now. let's face facts, the state of our planet is broken. humanity is waging war on nature. this is suicidal. the science is clear. for example, unless the world cuts fossil fuel production by 6% every year between now and 2030, things will get worse, much worse.

i've been talking about this for a long, long time... sir david attenboroughjoined him to warn time is running out. young people are very impatient, and quite rightly so. for nothing to come out, except words, is very dispiriting. we need action. the un chief says the world now faces a moment of truth. he says the choice is very simple. start cutting carbon emissions now — or face disaster. justin rowlatt, bbc news. tesco has announced that it is really paying £585 million of government financial support that it received during the pandemic. tesco said its business had proven resilient and it had now decided to return the business rates relief in full. in october, the company had defended paying out hundreds of millions of pounds in dividends to shareholders. disabled child ren‘s

long term div element is being severely affected by the pandemic. that's the warning from a coalition of 80 charities. research by the disabled children's partnership has found that crucial education and health support has been significantly reduced since the outbreak with hundreds not back in school full time. our disability news correspondent nikki fox has been speaking to one young boy who is desperate to return to school. ifeel like i'm not normal sometimes. it's like everyone's back at school, and guess who isn't back? me. jacob has a very rare type of congenital muscular dystrophy, an aggressive type. jacob is losing skills all the time. it's progressive, there is no cure forjacob, there's no treatment. jacob loves school. but, since march, he's only been able to attend four times. my old school couldn't touch me, they refused to touch me, because of corona and everything. i miss all my friends. i've forgotten most

of their names, because i haven't seen them since march. it seems like almost a complete breakdown in the system somewhere. he does have a school place, he does have funding, he's identified his training needs, everything's there but it's almost like the whole process has fallen apart somewhere. and i don't understand, jacob has always been in full—time school. the family has been told that, because of coronavirus, his support needs can't be met. not only could he not finish primary school in july, his transition to secondary school has now been delayed because a plan is yet to be finalised to make sure he can return safely. itjust seems like i'm always breaking bad news in everything in his life. for me to have to say to him, "you can't go to school," it's awful. it'sjust horrible for him. for families of young disabled people, getting the right specialist support in schools is difficult enough anyway, but the coronavirus has only added an extra layer of complexity. we are concerned that the cracks in the system before covid have been

made significantly worse, and that education and health support that is really crucial to learning, is not yet at pre—pandemic levels, and this is meaning that disabled children are falling further behind their peers and a risk to their longer term development. you obviously like learning, don't you? no, i hate maths. apart from... ok, fairenough. jacob, along with many others in his position, are desperate to get back to school full—time. they don't want to miss out any longer. it's just heartbreaking for us. you know, time is incredibly precious, and to think that he's spent so much time out of school, it'sjust wrong. the children's minister has written an open letter to all families with disabled children to reassure them that education is her top priority. ifjacob was to write a bucket list, number one would be to go to school, and that, for me, is so wrong. so, so wrong. you know, he should be dreaming big dreams,

and wishing for great things, not for something he's actually, you know, fundamentally entitled to. that report by our disability news correspondent nikki fox. for the first time since march, spectators will be allowed to watch live football matches in tier1 and tier two areas of england. tonight, 2,000 fans will be allowed in to watch shrewsbury town's league one game against accrington stanley. it's notjust football, though. across england, community sports are back. here's our sports editor dan roan. three, two, one... the earliest of starts this morning for these fitness fanatics. a midnight dip, as perdiswell leisure centre in worcester reopened at the first opportunity, with pools, gyms and community sport returning to action. professional sport in england continued during the recent lockdown, but, tonight, almost nine months after it was forced behind closed doors, fans will return at some clubs, like here at shrewsbury town. it's a big night for the club, you know? we've waited a long time to get the fans back into the ground.

entry into the ground will be different, we are coming in through the corner gates rather than through the turnstiles. the seating plan is totally different for the socially reduced capacity. catering is all outside. as we are in tier 2, we took the decision to make facemasks mandatory, just for everybody's to safety. cummings with another chance! when full, the meadow's capacity is 10,000. tonight, because it is in tier 2, there'll be just 2,000. but, for those lucky enough to be here, it's a precious step back towards normality. for shrewsbury fan guy fitzgerald, and his mother holly, this evening has special significance. guy has learning difficulties, and being involved with shrewsbury town is absolutely key to his mental health. yeah. supporting the club is a lifeline. it's been tough, but... so we will really, really appreciate tonight, win or lose. the return of fans has not been without debate. a bbc poll suggesting they are divided over whether they should be allowed to come back before a vaccine is rolled out, but it's happening. first off this afternoon

was horse racing. lingfield, one of four meetings in england with paying spectators. the hope that today proves a safe start and a move in the right direction. it is worth noting, of course, that across the professional leagues of england, half the clubs are still in tier 3 and england, half the clubs are still in tier3and are england, half the clubs are still in tier 3 and are therefore unable yet to welcome the fans back. also, with just 2000, it is of little financial benefit. in fact a night here in shrewsbury they reckon it will cost the clubs thousands of fans, that is the clubs thousands of fans, that is the cost of extra stewarding —— thousands of pounds. after almost nine months without paying spectators, sport has massively missed the atmosphere and the passion that they bring, and finally tonight they are reunited. time for a look at the weather here's darren bett. it is turning colder once again, but it is also turning wetter in the next few days. for many, it will be rain but there will be some sleet in

there too, and we are likely to